Dick Hyman and John Sheridan: Forgotten Dreams: Archives of Novelty Piano (1920's-1930's)

When I first got into Jazz, I considered anything written and produced before, say, 1999 to be "Novelty" Jazz.

So, it was with more than a little surprise that I popped Forgeotten Dreams into the CD player and was amazed to not hear Kenny G covers, but the style of music that had brought me into the Jazz realm. A fantastic album of songs penned by such greats as Zez Confrey, Willie "the Lion" Smith and Rube Bloom. All 19 cuts on this collection of hauntingly beautiful pieces is masterfully performed by the two men Sheridan and Hyman. Both men, performing on identical pianos for this recording, have shown that their 15+ years playing together has really created a unified flow to what they do. There are times when the two pianos are panned seperately into the speakers, so that one can distinguish the parts being play. There are times, particularly in "Finger Buster" when the two parts—though panned—are indistinguishable in a collision of sonic fury.

An absolutely perfect companion for reading and/or writing, this album is certain to please any avid fan of Novelty Piano.

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